Packers vs. Chiefs: 5 Things to Watch and a Prediction for Week 3

Five things to watch and a prediction for Green Bay's Week 3 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The Green Bay Packers (2-0) play host to the Kansas City Chiefs (1-1) on Monday night, marking the second time in as many weeks that Lambeau Field will be the setting for a primetime game. Green Bay beat the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football in Week 2. 

Here are five things to watch and a prediction for Green Bay’s clash on MNF:

 

1. Rodgers Under the Lambeau Lights

Few things in football have become more sure than Aaron Rodgers in a home primetime game. The Packers are 4-1 at Lambeau Field when Rodgers starts on Monday Night Football, with the lone loss coming when he fractured his clavicle against the Bears in 2013. In fact, the Packers haven’t lost at home in primetime with Rodgers healthy since 2008, when the Cowboys came into Lambeau Field and won on SNF. Green Bay is always a tough place to play, but Rodgers under the lights makes the Packers a strong bet every time. 

 

2. Houston, We May Have a Problem

Don Barclay mostly held his own filling in for Bryan Bulaga in Week 2, but he’ll have his hands full again Monday night. The backup right tackle figures to get 60 minutes of Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston, who led the NFL in sacks (22) a year ago. If there’s any one factor capable of halting Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau Field, it’s a consistently crumbling pocket. Houston is one of those rare pass-rushers with the ability to single-handedly ruin a gameplan, so expect the Packers to give Barclay plenty of help on the right side. 

 

3. Matchup Busters

A week after facing Marshawn Lynch and Jimmy Graham, the Packers will take on another tough RB-TE combination. Kansas City’s Travis Kelce and Jamaal Charles are dynamic players. But much like Seattle, the Chiefs have little else to lean on offensively, especially at the receiver position. The worry is that without safety Morgan Burnett, Green Bay will once again have troubles covering the middle of the field and stopping the run. Alex Smith remains a dink-and-dunk quarterback, who manages the game well but needs major help from his supporting cast. If the Packers can take away Kelce and limit Charles both as a runner and receiver, Smith will be forced to make the tough throws down the field. Is he capable? The Packers should do everything in their power to make him earn it Monday night. 

 

4. Pick on Fleming

If the Packers can protect Aaron Rodgers, expect the MVP quarterback to go after Chiefs cornerback Jamell Fleming. The Broncos torched him for nine completions, 123 yards and the game-tying touchdown in Week 2. Emmanuel Sanders—a similar receiver as Green Bay’s Randall Cobb—caught five of his eight targets against Fleming for 59 yards and the score. Only seven cornerbacks have given up more receiving yards this season. No. 30 in white and red will be a marked man on Monday night. 

 

5. How Much of Lacy and Adams?

The Packers upgraded both Eddie Lacy and Davante Adams to probable over the weekend, a clear sign that the team feels both will play against the Chiefs. How many snaps the two players receive is the better question. Backup running back James Starks is plenty capable of handling another full workload, and the Packers showed how creative they can be with rookie receiver Ty Montgomery against the Seahawks. It’d certainly be favorable if Lacy and Adams played the entire game against a really good Chiefs defense. But ankle injuries are tricky, especially for backs and receivers, so it’s entirely possible neither will play a huge role on Monday night. 

 

Prediction: Packers 30, Chiefs 20 (2-0)

Kansas City is talented enough to win anywhere, but you’d have to be crazy to bet against Rodgers at Lambeau Field, especially in primetime. Ride the train until it derails. 

 

Zach Kruse contributes to Cheesehead TV. You can reach him on Twitter @zachkruse2 or by email at [email protected].

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Comments (2)

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EdsLaces's picture

September 28, 2015 at 04:00 pm

Closer than people think. I think we come out blazing like usual and hit that midway slump like we usually. 24-14 Pack. Rich Rod be like who's this Kelce chick?

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PaulRosik's picture

September 28, 2015 at 05:58 pm

I think the Packers will struggle to run and it will be a big night for Rodgers. Remember when Alex Smith went number one in the draft and Rodgers had to sit in that room for 5 hours waiting to get drafted? Well Aaron Rodgers does. And he uses little motivations like that well and will have a big game in this one.

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